33 AirportImprovement.com July | August 2026 TERMINALS BWI Meeting goals for energy savings is a particular challenge when baggage handling systems are involved. With nearly 2 miles of conveyor belts and 670 motors, “the electrical consumption for that alone puts us over the edge,” advises Kleinman. To counter that, the team implemented a variety of energy- saving components, including LED fixtures and high-efficiency mechanical systems. In the HVAC system, 20-year-old chillers were replaced, dramatically cutting the airport’s energy consumption while gaining more than 1,000 tons of cooling capacity. And the system is able to switch to 100% outside air intake, providing passive cooling for the building for about four plus months out of the year, Kleinman reports. To improve indoor air quality, the new HVAC air distribution system includes ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology and high-MERV filtration, as well as anti-microbial silver ion coatings to inhibit virus growth in ductwork. The HVAC design incorporated the first full-scale implementation of an enhanced virus mitigation strategy at BWI, notes Sarah Gyorfi, mechanical engineer for JMT, the mechanical and plumbing designer. Landside, all roadway lighting now has high efficiency LED fixtures. Delivery Method Delivers The need to cut costs without drastically reducing the project scope or eliminating key elements was definitely a challenge, but Shank says it was substantially easier because BWI used the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method. Having contractors on board and working collaboratively with designers early was important to the success of the project, he stresses. Project partners had to work creatively and collectively to develop a solution that successfully delivered the same scope for less money, Koch explains. Early contractor involvement supported and enabled the value engineering and schedule optimization, agrees Kleinman. The flexibility afforded by the Construction Manager at Risk model enabled the team to optimize construction sequencing, minimize risk and deliver a higher-quality finished product, adds Fitzpatrick. “The CMaR approach streamlines the process and allows for more direct and collaborative engagement with trade partners,” he says. Another benefit, Shank says, was the ability to negotiate right up to the point of engaging with the Board of Public Works. “We’re fanatical about watching costs, and we make sure that everyone on the team is cost-conscious,” he relates.
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